Urban Planet: Thin Streets

Urban Planet is a daily roundup of blogs from around the world dealing specifically with urban environments. We’ll be on the lookout for websites outside the country that approach themes related to urban experiences and issues.

Frequently hailed as one of the world’s most liveable cities, everyone wants a piece of Vancouver. To address the lack of affordable housing, the city is considering the concept of Thin Streets. Conceived by former Vancouver planners, Ted Sebastian and Christine DeMarco, Thin Streets extends residential blocks into underused city streets – “turning asphalt into affordable housing.” A normal street allowance in Vancouver is 66 feet; the Thin Streets initiative would narrow the width by half. The proposal is not without its critics, many of whom feel that proposed densification initiatives are too radical. (National Post)